Snitz's LGBTQ Spotlight!
- snitzoid
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
1. Gallup's New LGBTQ+ Estimates
The Data: Nine percent of U.S. adults in 2025 said they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual, essentially unchanged from 2024 but more than double the 3.5% measured in 2012. The 2025 estimate is based on combined data from over 13,000 interviews with U.S. adults.
Identity Distribution: Eighty-six percent of adults identify as heterosexual, while 5% do not provide a response. Among LGBTQ+ adults, more than half identify as bisexual, representing about 5% of all U.S. adults. Seventeen percent of LGBTQ+ adults identify as gay, 16% as lesbian and 12% as transgender, each accounting for between 1% and 2% of the U.S. adult population.
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2. Identification Highest Among Young Adults
The Data: Twenty-three percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual, compared with 10% of those aged 30 to 49 and 3% or less among adults aged 50 and older.
Other Demographics: LGBTQ+ identification is higher among women than men, largely because women are more likely to identify as bisexual. Adults who identify their gender as nonbinary overwhelmingly identify as LGBTQ+. Identification is higher among Democrats than Republicans and somewhat higher among city residents than those living in suburban or rural areas. Rates are similar across major racial and ethnic groups.
3. For Many, Identity Was Clear by 14
The Data: The median age at which LGBTQ+ adults say they knew their sexual orientation or gender identity is 14. These findings are based on an in-depth, probability-based Gallup Panel™ survey conducted online May 1-15, 2024, among adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual.
By Age Group: Among the LGBTQ+ population, a majority of those aged 18 to 29 (56%) said they knew their identity by age 14. That compares with just under half of those aged 30 to 49 (45%) and 50 to 64 (46%), as well as 37% of those aged 65 and older. Conversely, the percentage who first knew as adults increases from 13% among the youngest age group to 36% among seniors.
4. Being Gay or Lesbian: Nature vs. Nurture
The Data: Forty-five percent of Americans say being gay or lesbian is something a person is born with, compared with 38% who say it is due to factors such as upbringing and environment.
The Trend: In 1977, 13% attributed being gay or lesbian to biological factors, while 56% cited upbringing or environment. Americans were more likely to choose environmental explanations through the late 1990s but were divided on the issue from 2001 to 2012. Public opinion has leaned more toward “nature” than “nurture” in most years since 2013.
5. Support for Same-Sex Marriage at 68%
The Data: Sixty-eight percent of U.S. adults say marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages.
Party Differences: Democratic support has risen to 88%, the highest recorded for that group, while Republican support has declined to 41%, the lowest since 2016. Independents' support stands at 76%. The 47-percentage-point gap between Democrats and Republicans is the largest since Gallup began tracking this measure in 1996.
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